Principal Certification Reciprocity

1
Principal Certification Reciprocity

• Tyree N. Clark
• Politics in Educational Administration
• EACS 6333
• March 24, 2004

2
Proposal

• If a person obtains a Principal certification in
  one state, they are certified to perform the
  functions as Principal in another state.
• Assumption Principal certification requirements
  are the same or similar in all states.

3
National Study

• School Principal and Superintendent Certification
  Study
• July to October 2002
• National Center for Educational Information
  (NCEI), Broad Foundation and Thomas B. Fordham
  Institute
• Complete picture of administrator certification,
  including alternative routes

4
Findings

• States see principals as instructional leaders
  more than as managers
• Emphasis on teaching experience
• Regular certification routes are through
  college/university programs
• Requirements vary considerably
• Some programs require internships others rely
  solely on coursework
• Some programs require exit tests or assessments
  most do not

5
Certification Requirements

• Oklahoma
• Masters Degree in an approved program
• Successfully complete competency exam
• Principal Core
• Principal (Elementary/Middle/Secondary)
• 2 years of successful teaching

6
Certification Requirements

• Texas
• Masters Degree with Principal Preparation
  Program
• Successfully complete competency exam
• TExES Principal
• 2 years of successful teaching

7
Certification Requirements

• Arkansas
• Two levels (Initial and Standard)
• Masters Degree in an approved program
• 5 years of successful teaching
• Mentoring program (1-3 years during initial)
• Successfully complete School Leaders Licensure
  Assessment (SLLA)

8
Certification Requirements

• Missouri
• Five levels (Elementary, Middle, Secondary and
  Advanced Elementary and Secondary)
• Masters Degree in an approved program
• 2 years of successful teaching
• Successfully complete administrators assessment
• Complete specific coursework related to level of
  certification

9
Certification Requirements

• Kansas
• Masters Degree in an approved program
• 3 years of successful teaching
• Successfully complete School Leadership
  Assessment or 3 years of experience in a school
  leadership position

10
Preparation Requirements

• University of Oklahoma
• Bachelors Degree with minimum 12 hours of
  education coursework
• 30 semester hours with a Thesis
• 36 semester hours with Portfolio
• Principal Internship
• One semester

11
Preparation Requirements

• University of Texas
• Bachelors Degree with minimum 4 years of
  teaching experience
• 51 semester hours
• Structured curriculum, no electives
• Principal Internship
• One year

12
Preparation Requirements

• University of Arkansas
• Bachelors Degree with teaching certification
• 27 semester hours with a Thesis
• 33 semester hours without
• Principal Internship
• One semester
• Comprehensive written examination
• Program of study portfolio presentation

13
Preparation Requirements

• University of Missouri
• Bachelors Degree with minimum 15 hours of
  education coursework
• 33 semester hours
• 16 hours at 400-level or above
• 16 hours of professional education
• M.A. requires manuscript defense
• M.Ed. requires comprehensive exam

14
Preparation Requirements

• University of Kansas
• 36 semester hours with comprehensive exam or
  project
• Structured curriculum, no electives
• Principal Internship
• One semester

15
What currently exists?

• Signed certification contracts or reciprocity
  agreements
• Currently, 24 states have signed certification
  contracts with Oklahoma, including Texas.
• Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri do not
• Typically limited to education preparation
  program requirements
• Reciprocity on certification tests possible
• Oklahoma passed legislation in fall 2003
• Texas exempts the TExAS for qualified scores on
  Oklahoma certification tests
• Principal Core (264)
• Principal Secondary (262)

16
What currently exists?

• NASDTEC
• Represents professional standards boards and
  commissions and state departments of education in
  all 50 states.
• NASDTEC promotes
• High standards for educators
• Educator mobility across state lines
• Comprehensive personnel screening
• Clearinghouse on teacher discipline

17
What currently exists?

• NASDTEC Interstate Contracts
• As of 2000, 25 states or territories were party
  to an interstate contract for administrator
  certification with Oklahoma, including Texas.
• Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri do not have any
  contracts
• Some states not party to an interstate contract
  grant certification to applicants from NCATE
  accredited programs.
• Required to pass state examinations
• Probationary periods

18
What currently exists?

• NCATE Accreditation
• Coalition of 35 professional associations
• Mechanism to help establish high quality teacher
  preparation programs
• Graduates from NCATE accredited schools will
  generally find it easier to apply for
  certification in other states
• Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma are NCATE
  accredited
• Missouri is a candidate for NCATE accreditation
• Texas is not NCATE accredited

19
Revised Proposal

• Strongly encourage all states to develop NASDTEC
  interstate contracts to allow mobility of
  principals.
• Strongly encourage (require?) all state
  college/university teacher preparation programs
  to seek and maintain NCATE accreditation.
• Unconditional reciprocity for certified
  principals from states with NASDTEC interstate
  contract and/or NCATE accredited programs.
• Peer coach or sponsor for state specific
  knowledge (law/finance)
• Conditional reciprocity for all others.
• Experience
• Mentoring
• Assessment scores
• G.P.A.

20
Outside the Box Proposal

• Eliminate administrator licensing /
  certification requirements.
• Allow school district superintendents to
  determine their own criteria for principalship.
• Increase the candidacy pool by allowing more
  non-traditional applicants.
• Increase authority and compensation for
  principals.

21
Questions?
22
References

• Arkansas Department of Education. Administrative
  Licensure. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2004 from
  http//arkedu.state.ar.us/administrators/administr
  ative_licensure_p1.html
• At a Glance Summary of Comparable Out-of-State
  Assessments. (2003). Retrieved March 1, 2004
  from http//www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/standt
  est/comsumm08_2003.pdf
• Certification Tests. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11,
  2004 from http//www.ou.edu/education/Certest.htm
• Frequently Asked Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved
  March 11, 2004 from http//www.sde.state.ok.us/pro
  /tcert/FAQ.html
• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary
  Education. Administration Requirements.
  (December 16, 2003). Retrieved March 1, 2004
  from http//www.dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/teachcert
  /administration.html
• National Center for Education Information (NCEI).
  School Principal and Superintendent Study. (May
  2003). Retrieved March 1, 2004 from
  http//www.ncei.com/products.html

23
References

• National Association of State Directors of
  Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC).
  About NASDTEC. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2004
  from http//www.nasdtec.org/about.tpl
• National Association of State Directors of
  Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC).
  The NASDTEC Manual on the Preparation and
  Certification of Educational personnel. (2000).
  Retrieved March 18, 2004, from http//www.gapsc.co
  m/tom
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher
  Education (NCATE). About NCATE. (n.d.).
  Retrieved March 18, 2004 from http//www.ncate.org
  /ncate/m_ncate.htm
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher
  Education (NCATE). Institutions/Programs.
  (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2004 from
  http//www.ncate.org/accred/list-institutions/cent
  ral.htm
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher
  Education (NCATE). Standards. (n.d.).
  Retrieved March 18, 2004 from http//www.ncate.org
  /standard/m_stds.htm
• Status Report of States/Jurisdictions That Have
  Signed Certification Contracts with Oklahoma.
  (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2004 from
  http//www.sde.state.ok.us/pro/tcert/FAQ.html

24
References

• University of Arkansas College of Education
  Health Professions. EDAD Programs of Study.
  (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2004 from
  http//www.uark.edu/depts/coehp/EDAD3.htm
• University of Kansas School of Education.
  Certification Requirements. (n.d.). Retrieved
  March 1, 2004 from http//www.ku.edu/edleader/Eda
  d/Certification.html
• University of Kansas School of Education. The
  Masters Degree Program. (n.d.). Retrieved
  March 1, 2004 from http//www.ku.edu/edleader/ed_
  leader_desc.html
• University of Missouri College of Education.
  Master of Arts. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2004
  from http//elpa.coe.missouri.edu/degree_programs/
  mastera.php
• University of Oklahoma College of Education.
  Masters Programs. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1,
  2004 from http//www.ou.edu/education/elps/eacs/ma
  sters.htm
• University of Texas College of Education. The
  Principalship Program. (n.d.). Retrieved March
  1, 2004 from http//www.edb.utexas.edu/coe/depts/e
  dadmin/psel/principal.htm

25
References

• Hess, F.M. (Fall 2003). Lifting the Barrier.
  Education Next, 3, 12-19. Retrieved March 19,
  2004 from http//www.educationnext.org/20034/index
  .html
• Tucker, M. (Fall 2003). Out With The Old.
  Education Next, 3, 20-24. Retrieved March 19,
  2004 from http//www.educationnext.org/20034/index
  .html
• Thomas B. Fordham Institute The Broad
  Foundation. (Fall 2003). The Power to Perform.
  Education Next, 3, 25-27. Retrieved March 19,
  2004 from http//www.educationnext.org/20034/index
  .html